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Electrical and Storm Safety

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Never place an electric appliance where it can fall in water. Never touch an electric appliance while you are standing in water. Don't place electric heaters near combustible materials. As a safety precaution before leaving the house on vacation, unplug all electrical appliances except for those lights connected to automatic timers.

If you live in a stormprone area, nail down roof shingles or use adequate adhesive to keep them from blowing off in a violent wind. For roofs with shingles that are not the sealdown type, apply a little dab of roofing cement under each tab. Alert your local police department if you discover downed power lines. Set up barricades to keep others away from the area until help arrives.

A lightning protection system should offer an easy, direct path for the bolt to follow into the ground and thus prevent injury or damage while the bolt is traveling that path. Grounding rods (at least 2 fora small house) should be placed at opposite corners of the house. Keep an eye on large trees even healthy ones that could damage your house if felled in a storm. Cut them back if necessary.

Electrical and Storm Safety

Store a lantern, pick, shovel, crowbar, hammer, screwdriver, and pliers in your storm shelter.
If the exit becomes blocked you may have to dig your way out. Store canned food and bottled water, too.
Th e basement is not a good shelter during a tornado because it's too close to gas pipes, sewer pipes, drains, and cesspool. A better shelter would be underground, far from the house (in case the roof falls) and away from the gas and sewer system.

In a hurricane, don't go out unless you have to. However, if flooding threatens seek high ground and follow the instructions of civil defense personnel. A. spare tire in the trunk of your car can be used as a life preserver in a flooding or drowning emergency. Make sure the tire is in good shape.

When a major storm is imminent, close shutters, board windows, or tape the inside of larger panes with an "X" along the full length of their diagonals. Even a light material like masking tape may give the glass the extra margin of strength it needs to resist cracking. Exception: When a tornado threatens, leave windows slightly ajar.

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